Terminal strip applicator

Abstract

A terminal strip applicator includes a ram that carries a first die set mounted for reciprocation along a first path within a machine body and a track that automatically adjusts to accept a strip of terminals to limit the terminal strip to a second path which intersects the first path. A terminal feed mechanism sequentially resiliently advances the terminal strip along the second path until the terminal feed mechanism engages the shoulder of an interchangeable die set that precisely aligns the lead terminal carried by the terminal feed mechanism with the die sets of the applicator.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An applicator for sequentially applying terminals to wires where the terminals are provided in insulation form with insulation connecting adjacent terminals, comprising: a machine body;   opposing aligned upper and lower die sets each including a strip severance die and a crimp die;   means for sequentially advancing a lead terminal of the terminal strip into alignment with the upper and lower die sets; and   a ram assembly mounted for reciprocation within the machine body, the ram assembly including die set mounting means for interchangeably mounting the strip severance die and crimp die of the upper die set to the ram assembly, the crimp die being mounted to the ram assembly with a limited freedom of movement relative to the ram assembly in the direction of its length and being spring biased to project past the strip severance die, such that as the ram assembly is advanced the crimp die is disposed to resiliently engage and prevent rotation of a terminal before and during severance of the terminal from the terminal strip by the strip severance die and as the ram assembly is retracted the crimp die extends to strip the terminal from the dies.   
     
     
       2. An applicator as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of the crimp dies of the upper and lower die sets includes spaced apart sharp anti-rotation edges formed in a working die pocket of the crimp die transverse to the length of the terminal strip portion. 
     
     
       3. An applicator as set forth in claim 2, wherein the ram assembly includes a ram body having an internal ram bore extending in the direction of movement of the ram assembly, a slot in a face of the ram body which communicates with the ram bore, a spring biased piston disposed within the ram bore, and a pin secured to the piston being disposed to project out of the slot to engage and spring bias the crimp die.